about the museum
Brief history
More than 20 thousand Russian and foreign publications of 18th to 20th centuries are kept in the book collection of A.V.Suvorov State memorial museum. The fund of rare books has mainly been formed of private collections of Russian scientists and cultural workers of 19th and 20th centuries, libraries of regiments' museums and military schools. The book fund contains various rare compositions, including encyclopedias, directories, scientific collections on the history of military art.
The most extensive part of the collection is Suvorov's section. The majority of publications in Russian and in foreign languages dedicated to the commander are represented here.
The first one who entered the books into the library register was librarian Sergey Dmitrievich Maslovsky. He was also the one who in 1901 prepared and published, according to decision of Suvorov commission, the "Inventory to the monuments and items in the temporary premises of Suvorov museum at the Nikolaev academy of the Joint Staff". Professors A.Z.Myshlaevsky and V.M.Koljubakin were the editors of the inventory. "Inventory" was the first guidebook in the history of the museum. The Russian biographic dictionary had in 1912 published an article by S.D.Maslovsky about A.V.Suvorov with extensive Russian and foreign bibliographic sources.Gifts and donations, receipts from private collections played a significant role in formation of the collection of rare books. Among the gifts it is necessary to note the collections of A.I.Liubimov, M.V.Liushkovsky, N.V.Gruslanov. With a real enthusiasm they collected rare
publications about the commander, the literature on military history, numismatics, tin miniature. Their collections were transferred to the museum almost completely.
When exhibits of the museum were packed for evacuation to Ekaterinburg in 1918 the most part of the library was taken away too. In 1922 after the liquidation of regiment's museums of Kavalergardsky life-guards regiment and Saperny life-guards battalion all the property, including the books was delivered to A.V.Suvorov's museum. In the 50th, the fund of the library was considerably replenished with doublet copies from other libraries, including from the reserve fund of the Artillery Historical museum.
Throughout its whole history the existence of library was inextricably related with the existence of the museum. Publications from the book collection were repeatedly shown at the exhibitions. Nowadays the library is an integral and an important part of the museum.
The fund contains over 250 book collections, including publications from the libraries of Romanovs family and the Russian nobility.
The first collector of Suvorov relics, the creator of "Suvorov collection" is Vasily Pavlovich Engelgardt. One can suppose that the books about Suvorov including in the books in foreign languages, were bought by Engelgardt during his travel along the route of Suvorov's army in Switzerland. The book collection includes various rare compositions. The books from the personal library of the commander should be especially noted. Only a few items are kept till the present time. One example is the "Arithmetics, written in French by the hand of count Suvorov in 1740", which belonged to Alexander Vasiljevich.This hand-written book was found at the end of last century, and subsequently transferred to the funds from the library of Imperial Kazan University.
There is also a hand-written book with the autograph of the generalissimo "Charter of Prussian infantry" in Russian, issued in Berlin in 1750. Title page of the Charter has an inscription made by Suvorov being still a colonel, saying that he gives this copy to lieutenant Koshelev - probably one of the officers of Suzdalsky infantry regiment which he commanded at that time.
The most extensive part of book fund of scientific library is Suvorov department. This section includes, save rare exceptions, all publications in Russian dedicated to Suvorov, as well as many books about the commander, issued in the end of 18th and in 19th the century in foreign languages.
The book fund includes unique encyclopedias, directories, dictionaries, scientific collections on the history of military art. It is necessary to note the section of Russian history. This section of thte collection features wide a variety of subjects and thorough selection of publications, including rare periodic ones, for example, like hand-written "Magazine of avant guarde of prince P.I.Bagration". The magazine was written in cursive writing of the end of 18th century in Russian and partly in French and covers the period from April 9 till September 28, 1799.
Sections on the history of regiments of the Russian Imperial army, the military form, the weapons are quite extensive. As a rule, they include most authoritative publications. When forming the funds the best copies were selected taking into consideration their integrity - registered and name publications on the paper of special grades which were issued in 100 to 200 copies. Many books bear ex-librises.
A distinguishing feature of the library is the presence of a big number of publications with autographes, marks by the authors, owners, readers which makes them particularly interesting. Among donated copies are publications with autographes of A.F.Petrushevsky, A.N.Firsovich, A.V.Pomarnatsky, G.K.Zhukov. The list of names of donators helps to define more exactly their scientific relations and interests, opens a way of updating of book collections.
